Mother granted bail after 2½ years in prison on fraud charges

The family of a 63-year-old Brisbane woman, Fatima I'Lache, expressed mixed emotions as she was released on bail after spending almost 2½ years in prison while awaiting trial for fraud-related offences. She was charged with three fraud offences and one passport-related charge in February 2023. The Brisbane Supreme Court judge highlighted a 'very real risk' of her spending too much time in custody.

Ms I'Lache is accused of financial deception and social security fraud, with charges including failure to declare a property when claiming benefits, totaling $245,000. She also allegedly obtained a second passport without proper declaration. Her health issues during remand were emphasized in court.

Her family described the ordeal as 'heart-breaking' and 'taxing', with her daughter deferring studies to assist in her legal matters. Despite being denied Legal Aid, Ms I'Lache struggled to secure legal representation due to owning properties. The family expressed relief at her bail, despite the challenges they faced.

Ms I'Lache, an Australian resident since 1978, cited her lack of travel documents and employment offer as reasons for seeking bail. Justice Rebecca Treston granted her bail with strict conditions, acknowledging the prolonged time spent in custody.

The family welcomed the bail decision, noting the mix of emotions as they looked forward to reuniting with their mother after a long and challenging period. A trial for the fraud charges is scheduled for this month, with a separate trial for the passport offence later this year.

According to the source: 9News.